Dr-Patient

Its so awesome not to be the biggest person in the room.. Or be afraid to go on airplane, theater or shows. Your head still thinks your big but your now NORMAL>. its awesome.. Keep going.
Chris

I didn't do well with any pre-op diet regimen, still had my surgery on time and I'm doing fine.
Do the best you can; but unless you've got some major health ailments, and an already huge liver, don't overly stress about it. Just sayin'. If you drop some weight preo-op, good. If you can do so well pre-op with a diet, you wouldn't need the surgery! None of us would have. :-) [They want you to lose some weight before surgery to decrease the size of the liver to avoid possible injury if its so big that it's near the surgical field.]

We are the exact same weight loss, stall and surgery date Lol. I cut out all artificial sweetners. I add a little agave nectar to coffee or drizzled on my oatmeal if I need it. I have no sugar issues though.

Hang in there - it will get better.
The other day I made Shepherds Pie, something I ate a lot of pre-op. I ponied up to the dish and scooped out a huge serving like I would have before surgery - like a cup and walked over to the table. I looked down at that big mound of food and said, "What am I doing? I will only eat about 1/4 of that!" I went back to the stove, scooped a bunch out and returned to the table and ate about 1/4 of my original portion.
Old habits die hard - I found myself reaching into a bag of chips...I can have chips, they aren't illegal, but I threw them in the garbage as a symbolic move. Those aren't for me.
I had a stall for 10 days between weeks 2 and 3 and have only lost .4 pounds this week, so I suspect another one is upon me. It sucks. It's time for me to put the scale away. I can only control what I put in my mouth and how much exercise I get. I can't control what my body is going to do - it's going to work things out on it's own timeframe.
You're doing great - you got this!!!!!

Oh...and I REALLY want to drink a ton of Water like I used to. I love Water and these periodic swallows are annoying. And I'd said I wouldn't complain about that. Oh well.
I see the cycle of this process. Guess that's why we're 'here'--to commiserate, support and understand each other along this journey. Thank goodness we're not alone.

Oh...and I REALLY want to drink a ton of Water like I used to. I love Water and these periodic swallows are annoying. And I'd said I wouldn't complain about that. Oh well.
I see the cycle of this process. Guess that's why we're 'here'--to commiserate, support and understand each other along this journey. Thank goodness we're not alone.

Oh...and I REALLY want to drink a ton of Water like I used to. I love Water and these periodic swallows are annoying. And I'd said I wouldn't complain about that. Oh well.
I see the cycle of this process. Guess that's why we're 'here'--to commiserate, support and understand each other along this journey. Thank goodness we're not alone.

Oh...and I REALLY want to drink a ton of Water like I used to. I love Water and these periodic swallows are annoying. And I'd said I wouldn't complain about that. Oh well.
I see the cycle of this process. Guess that's why we're 'here'--to commiserate, support and understand each other along this journey. Thank goodness we're not alone.

Oh...and I REALLY want to drink a ton of Water like I used to. I love Water and these periodic swallows are annoying. And I'd said I wouldn't complain about that. Oh well.
I see the cycle of this process. Guess that's why we're 'here'--to commiserate, support and understand each other along this journey. Thank goodness we're not alone.

The only 'tube' used in the sleeve surgery is the bougie, and it is removed. It does not remain in the body. So...? Surely the surgeon didn't leave the bougie in her stomach.
I second "Splatt's" question: did she hane the gastric lapband? That remains in the body. There is no indwelling tube that remains in the body with the sleeve operation.

My grocery bill is practically NIL post-op! Maybe $10/every three days. It's crazy. I am a great cook, love to cook, always bought good food (fresh, etc.) and could 'get down' on some food. But since I can't eat much these days...! I used to buy big packs of chicken, or salmon from Sam's etc., cook some, freeze the rest; but I haven't been there at all since surgery. I don't want all that stuff staying in the freezer for what may be weeks.I need to learn how to cook 'small.'
My best cooking treat so far: 2 small lobster tails from Publix. $4.99/ea. I pulled the meat from the shells, cut into chunks, topped with butter and parsley and put it in the (yes) microwave for 2 minutes [no oven!]. It didn't overcook; was tender, not rubbery. Ate 3 pieces at a time for lunch, then dinner). Lasted 2 days.
Also, before surgery I did what I'd read from so many other folks: buy this, buy that and I bought a bunch of stuff that still sits on my countertop. You are not going to be an invalid post-op (Lord willing a safe operative journey). So for the first week, just make sure you have Clear liquids in the house (broths, tea, Water, crystal light, an Isopure or two), some Vitamins, etc. You do not need to clear the stores's shelves of Protein products. You will be able to later--likely within a few days--get what you need as the days and weeks progress. Plus, walking the grocery store aisles, holding the cart, makes easy exercise in your second week. Just my opinion.
Oh...my 2nd restaurant trip today (see my "1st restaurant experience" previous post): I only ordered the crab cake appetizer and I was done: One crab cake with a little remoulade sauce, spritzed with lemon.

The "dent"...? Are you speaking about the top of the stomach (where leaks mostly occur), or (most likely), the lower part that attaches to the small intestine...? Sounds like she may have a stricture.
Strictures--usually at the pylorus--the junction of the stomach and first part of the small intestine (duodenum)--is usually due to too small a bougie causing the surgeon to make that area where the stomach empties into the small bowel too narrow. Sounds like they may try to dilate the narrowed junction. Strictures are usually less complicated to fix than "leaks."
Try to stay calm.

The "dent"...? Are you speaking about the top of the stomach (where leaks mostly occur), or (most likely), the lower part that attaches to the small intestine...? Sounds like she may have a stricture.
Strictures--usually at the pylorus--the junction of the stomach and first part of the small intestine (duodenum)--is usually due to too small a bougie causing the surgeon to make that area where the stomach empties into the small bowel too narrow. Sounds like they may try to dilate the narrowed junction. Strictures are usually less complicated to fix than "leaks."
Try to stay calm.

Thank you for the replies. Good tips.
My 2nd restaurant experience today: I only ordered a crab cake appetizer (one crab cake) with remoulade sauce, spritzed with lemon. I was full. Slow sips of Water.
And...I just walked the shore for 2 miles. Whoo-hoo!! Trying to get off this plateau. I need an ocean at home. (Currently in Hilton Head, SC); home tomorrow. Oh well. :-)

Thank you for the replies. Good tips.
My 2nd restaurant experience today: I only ordered a crab cake appetizer (one crab cake) with remoulade sauce, spritzed with lemon. I was full. Slow sips of Water.
And...I just walked the shore for 2 miles. Whoo-hoo!! Trying to get off this plateau. I need an ocean at home. (Currently in Hilton Head, SC); home tomorrow. Oh well. :-)

I'm 6 wks + a few days post-VSG; 30 pounds down (including a week of stall). Last night for the first time, I went to a restaurant for a sit-down dinner. I usually ordered an appetizer, entree, wine and maybe a dessert. So this was different: 1) holding off on my Water to save room for my food; 2) passing up on ordering any wine/martini; 3) do I just get an appetizer, knowing that that amount is all I'd likely be able to eat?; 4) do I get the entree only? 5) do I tell the waitress why 'no' to this/'no' to that?
I ended up only ordering an entree (which, early-bird included a soup; I picked the black bean soup). The Soup came in a rather large bowl containing maybe ~8-10 ounces. I had 3 spoonfuls and stopped. My "crabmeat-stuffed tilapia" with veggies and rice dinner came. The 'stuff' part was perfect: soft, tasty, could've had more. The fish--broiled--went down well and I ate a few pieces of the squash and the zucchini, plus I allowed a few grains of rice, but NOT even a fork full of rice. BUT, bottom line...I brought ~85 % of everything home. (And I DID tell the waitress, but really didn't have to.)
Advice: Just order an appetizer, or be prepared to bring everything else home for munching later. Plus, instead of an $50-80 tab, it was $16.00--an "NSV." Any others with advice on this? Thanks.

It's normal to have some anxiety, even fear before any surgery. If you fear you'll be fighting with your brain post op, you really won't, because you won't be really hungry.
I, too, was done totally outpatient. 6:30 arrival, 7:30 surg start, left the facility by noon. I must've felt some pain when the nurses got me up to walk, but I only remember saying, "I'm right here, you don't have to yell." Lol. I was later told that I really didn't want to move and I kept saying, "Just give me five more minutes, just five more minutes!"...as if that would have really made any difference.
I don't remember any of that thanks to the wonderful drug Versed, which causes short term amnesia.
Think of why you're doing this and go forth. I'm a woman and in six weeks I'm down 30 pounds as of yest.

It's normal to have some anxiety, even fear before any surgery. If you fear you'll be fighting with your brain post op, you really won't, because you won't be really hungry.
I, too, was done totally outpatient. 6:30 arrival, 7:30 surg start, left the facility by noon. I must've felt some pain when the nurses got me up to walk, but I only remember saying, "I'm right here, you don't have to yell." Lol. I was later told that I really didn't want to move and I kept saying, "Just give me five more minutes, just five more minutes!"...as if that would have really made any difference.
I don't remember any of that thanks to the wonderful drug Versed, which causes short term amnesia.
Think of why you're doing this and go forth. I'm a woman and in six weeks I'm down 30 pounds as of yest.

I'd say no to the rice pudding. Carbs--the enemy, especially early on. You'll have scale-stalls later on, so don't slow down your weight loss at this point with needless carbohydrates/starches. But...check with your doc or their nutritionist.

Wow; that is fantastic! I had VSG Dec 4th, am down 23#s, but at a stall for the past 4 days. The scale hasn't moved. Seeing these numbers keeps me encouraged that it WILL happen...in a BIG way!

I'd say no to the rice pudding. Carbs--the enemy, especially early on. You'll have scale-stalls later on, so don't slow down your weight loss at this point with needless carbohydrates/starches. But...check with your doc or their nutritionist.

Wow; that is fantastic! I had VSG Dec 4th, am down 23#s, but at a stall for the past 4 days. The scale hasn't moved. Seeing these numbers keeps me encouraged that it WILL happen...in a BIG way!

Wow; that is fantastic! I had VSG Dec 4th, am down 23#s, but at a stall for the past 4 days. The scale hasn't moved. Seeing these numbers keeps me encouraged that it WILL happen...in a BIG way!

Okay...January 1, 2013 I weighed 345 lbs.
Now January 1, 2014 I am 198 lbs
That's a total of 147 lbs last year, wow!!!!!!!
Before that I would not even had been able to lose 7 of those on my own....
How much did you lighten this world up in 2013? What makes you grateful for your WLS?
Mine is that I can walk for hours. Hold my granddaughter close to my chest. Buy clothes at a regular store. And best of all no one knows who the hell I am when I pass them on the street, I no longer stand out in public!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At a recent ObesityWeek conference for medical professionals, the overall consensus is that the best bougie size is 36-38.
Alos, Lapbands are on a serious decline, due to erosions and other complications.
For BMIs over 50, either do bypass or VSG, not Lapband.